Permitting activity slows in Appalachian Basin for week ended Sept. 5
Monday, September 13, 2021
Permitting activity slowed down in the Appalachian Basin during the week of Aug. 30-Sept. 5, according to Marcellus Drilling News.
Pennsylvania issued 14 new shale drilling permits scattered across the state. Ohio issued three new drilling permits.
West Virginia saw no new permitting activity.
Learn more: Marcellus Drilling News > Weekly Shale Drilling Permits for PA, OH, WV: Aug 30-Sep 5
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.